LOCAL

LOCAL Tressel namedcoach of the year HOUSTON -- Jim Tressel, who led Ohio State to the national championship, won the Bear Bryant Award as the college football coach of the year. Boardman youthwins tournament BOARDMAN -- Bryant Salcedo recently won the 14-year-old singles division of the Midwest Designated tennis tournament held at the Western Reserve Racquet Club in Streetsboro. Salcedo, who is ranked 55th in the USTA Junior seedings, defeated Brad Noel in the championship match 6-1, 6-0. He won his semifinal match against Christopher Nowak, 6-3, 6-0. Long-time officialsare recognized YOUNGSTOWN -- Several long-serving officials were recognized by the Mahoning Valley Basketball Officials Association, at its annual social at the Itam Club Wednesday. Don Friedrich was presented with a 25-year award; Phil Atsas, Joe Bettura, Mike Driscoll, Brian Mincher and Ralph Roberts were given 20-year awards, and Jonathon Bloor, Pat Kelly, Ed Saxton, Rich Switka and Jeff Vrabel received 15-year awards. Mike Shane was recognized for his two years as association president. Officers for the 2003-04 year will be Dave Veitz, president; Rob Luklan, vice-president; Mike Butch Sr., secretary-treasurer, Walt Pishkur, interpreter, and Mike Vaschak, mechanics chief. Fiesta Bowl replay YOUNGSTOWN -- WYTV (33) will show a replay of the Ohio State-Miami Fiesta Bowl game on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The game will be shown in its entirety except for the pre-game show and the halftime ceremonies. Streetball game FARRELL, Pa. -- The Playground All-Stars, a streetball basketball team, will take on the Farrell-Youngstown All-Stars Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Farrell High's E.J. McCluskey gymnasium. Tickets will be $10 at the door. For more information call Akbar Mejeed at (215) 783-1821.\ Phantom Rocketsgoalie named BOARDMAN -- Phantom Rockets goalie Justin Carland was honored as the Continental Elite Hockey League Goalie of the Week for his 3-0 shutout of the Dayton Gems. Carland is the fourth Rockets player recognized by the league this season. Sunday the Rockets meet Toledo at the Ice Zone at 4:30 p.m. Columbiana HOF COLUMBIANA -- Eight athletes will be inducted in the Columbiana High School Athletic Hall of Fame Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Inductees are Dave Bailey, class of 1962; Mike Barnes, 1978; George Brungard, 1932; Larry Caffro, former coach-athletic director; Paul Cusick, 1987; Harry Hollinger, 1945; Dick Keller, 1966 and Jim Poulton, 1958. They will be introduced between the varsity girls and varsity boys game between Columbiana and Crestview, Feb. 14. Tickets for the banquet can be purchased by calling the Columbiana High athletic office at (330) 482-3818 or Larry Baughman at (330) 482-3422. REGION Spikes hopesto be cut loose CINCINNATI -- Linebacker Takeo Spikes hopes the Cincinnati Bengals let him become a free agent rather than using one of its tags to keep him around for another year. Rhett sues Browns CLEVELAND -- Former Cleveland Browns running back Errict Rhett is suing the team doctor and the Cleveland Clinic for what he believes was a misdiagnosis of the foot injury that ended his career. NATION NFL barscoach trades NEW YORK -- The NFL barred teams from trading draft picks for the right to sign a coach, the type of swap that allowed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to get Jon Gruden. Kwan leadsafter short program DALLAS -- In her first major competition since winning the Olympic gold medal, Sarah Hughes gutted out a flawed short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She's third behind Michelle Kwan and Sasha Cohen going into Saturday night's free skate, worth two-thirds of the final score. Olympic bronze medalist Tim Goebel held off up-and-comers Johnny Weir and Matt Savoie, and veteran Michael Weiss to win the men's short program. Pairs figure skater Kyoko Ina's four-year suspension from Olympic-eligible competition has been reduced to a two-year ban by the U.S. Olympic Committee. However, Ina she gave up her eligibility in November. She can skate in pro-am events. WORLD Alinghi one winfrom Cup final AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Switzerland's Alinghi moved within a victory of advancing to the America's Cup final, erasing Oracle's early lead and winning by 13 seconds. Vindicator staff/wire reports